Kibble / dry food

[kati]

Hello,
We currently use Chudleys Salmon maintenance as this was suggested when we rehomed Dom, but recently he has gone off it a bit.  He is still eating well but until last week used to wolf it all down as soon as it hit the bowl - now he sniffs it and leaves it.  We've been leaving it in the bowl and he does eat it all eventually, and is eating more than his recommended allowance on the pack though is still a bit underweight (we exercise him quite a bit, and he is only 2).

Is ignoring food a sign he is settling in and is no longer worried about other dogs taking his food? Or is it a cause for concern? When we first got him he ate quickly and even made himself regurgitate food as he ate so fast he didn't chew properly.  We started giving him three meals a day instead of one and this seemed to work better - he began to eat more slowly.  I'm not sure whether to try him on two meals instead of three now he has got the hang of slower eating?

He he still has a big appetite for treats and other foodstuffs such as tinned fish, wheatabix and chicken - he'll eat these as soon as they're put in the bowl.  If I put them in the bowl with kibble he picks out what he wants to eat and leaves the kibble for later.

He had an upset stomach last week and we wondered if this has put him off the food? The sniffing / leaving food started after this.  He seems fine now and happy in himself but we thought maybe he associates the kibble with being ill as that was all he had eaten that day?  
We were thinking of switching food to see if this helps - has anyone tried the RGT Greyhound food? Or does anyone have suggestions for good complete food for greyhounds?

thanks for your help,
Kate

[Ted]

A number of my Greyhounds would not eat kibble as a main meal, so these days I always feed them a wet food like Naturediet or ForthGlade. They all appeared to have been brought up on some type of kibble whilst racing or in rescue kennels and once they realise they are in a permanent home where they know they will always have food when they want it. Some kibbles even the expensive have additives and other rubbish in it. Also the Greyhound Kibble that is mentioned by the RGT is not Gluten Free, I asked about this and it contains wheat. I do leave a bucket containing a Gluten Free Kibble down for them to snack when they want it. I give each 1/2 carton each for breakfast and a carton each for the evening meal, I do not add kibble to these meals but do add a couple of pieces of thin ham and a sausage each meal which they enjoy. One of my greyhounds has both of his meals together for his evening meal. I can't leave a dish down that any of them does not want for that meal as Kelly (9) my youngest greyhound would eat that as well as hers.

[vickyb]

I definitely wouldn't be giving him weetabix. There is nothing of benefit in it compared to kibble and a lot of greyhounds struggle with wheat. You don't add milk do you? I think I would try going to 2 meals and a few biscuits for supper and see if it makes a difference. It could be that he is getting fed up of the kibble. Can you add water and a little wet food and mix it really well so it coats the kibble? although we had a greyhound that almost sucked the kibble to get the tasty bits off but she would go back and eat the kibble as soon as she'd eaten the tasty bits.

[samburns]

Aug 21, 2016 3:47:36 GMT -5 kati said:

He had an upset stomach last week and we wondered if this has put him off the food? The sniffing / leaving food started after this.  He seems fine now and happy in himself but we thought maybe he associates the kibble with being ill as that was all he had eaten that day?  

just to say that yes that is a possibility, it is a natural survival instinct in dogs x

[kati]

Hi, thank you all. We've bought a gluten free kibble to try rather than the RGT greyhound kibble (I've forgotten the brand - something that said it was made locally) and are changing over slowly. He seems to be really enjoying it, and is picking out the new brand before eating the old brand. He's still eating well, and seems quite happy. We don't give milk with the weetabix, just crumble one in with his food and mix with a little water. We'll cut this down too... I think we'll increase meat / fish / wet food so his food is a bit more exciting for him.

I'm finding it a bit confusing what to feed or not to feed, there's so much choice, and I think some advice we've found elsewhere is now out of date so it's great to be able to ask other greyhound owners.

Thanks again,
Kate